Comments on: Logo usage #5: Banking

By: Alen Type08 Pavlovic

Alen Type08 Pavlovic — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:23:56 +0000

@ Dalius: thanks, I agree, bank logo really CAN be very simple yet visually and conceptually strong. Commerzbank is a nice refreshment in this area but it will be hard to stay original this way since loops are some kind of a trendy style nowdays.
@ Mia: thanks again, this is the level of the details that I like in the comments: a strong stand with the arguments, being them subjective or objective, right or wrong but they are still a stand and that’s what counts at forums like this one.
And let me hit one of my own now, personally, a winner of the ‘Who should re-brand’ here would be Sun Trust. They need to refresh their identity asap IMO, because this brand name deserves a bit more, a high quality branding that could represent it well in this strong competition and not just leave an impression of the mid 80’s travel agency. Just imagine the possibilities a designer would have working with this brand name, Sun Trust, I got goosebumps from only reading/writing this powerful name, it really deserves better visual statement.

By: CSS Brigit | http://www.logonest.com/2010/02/logo-usage-5-banking/

CSS Brigit | http://www.logonest.com/2010/02/logo-usage-5-banking/ — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:36:00 +0000

http://www.logonest.com/2010/02/logo-usage-5-banking/...

While you browse through this logos I am off to check if there is a official word for ”fear of not using blue and red in branding (of banks)”. Maybe there should be one……

By: Mia Yang

Mia Yang — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 13:20:01 +0000

Another good topic, Alen, as usual.
I second your question – why is everything so blue and red in banking? I wonder why… no originality? It would be cool to have a bank you feel great joining, but the issue of having someone else handling your money is always delicate. There is a bank here that uses yellow and dark gray all over their interior (Raiffeisen), but their logo… no need to end the sentence
I dislike typical approaches which most of banks have. But, it’s ironical how none of them used the shape of a bill, coins or a vault as inspiration (which is something I would have in mind) – though some of them have these origami-like marks and even UBS has keys (old version of locking your money in). A lion is another overly used symbol for the king of the jungle, the best one out there… Bank of America’s flag-like mark is overly used in politics and other areas, wrong choice in my opinion.
SunTrust’s rays are nice, though they remind me more of a seaside resort… Barclays’ eagle is nice, lettering less serious… And, the winner is, in my humble opinion, somewhere between UBS (I would change the lettering) and Fortis (I like how you can see a fort, a town inside those little, multicolored squares).

By: Logo usage #5: Banking « Ethereal Visions

Logo usage #5: Banking « Ethereal Visions — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 06:10:30 +0000

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Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:17:50 +0000

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By: Dalius Stuoka

Dalius Stuoka — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:20:21 +0000

Great article, Alen. Really broadens the mind to read about different spheres and what logos are the best in there. I enjoyed citibank the best Really simplistic but symbolic… I’ve also really liked Deutch, Commerz, Nordea logos. I guess I just find them the most aesthetically pleasing or best to my taste heh)

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By: Alen Type08 Pavlovic

Alen Type08 Pavlovic — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:00:36 +0000

Fabian, Nathan, Tito, Rob, Thomas, thank you all for your very interesting opinions. That introduction line almost started a small ‘orange revolution’ here

By: Thomas

Thomas — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:35:46 +0000

Even though I still don’t think banks give you a welcome feeling I must admit the ING bank locations (or at least some of them) have done a pretty good makeover, orange is the main colour of their furniture, windows and doors. They did a great job of giving you the ING feeling.

About banking in general. If you’d ask me the suits should go. Most of the time I get the feeling of intimidation, like I’m the stupid customer and they are all knowing and I should feel stupid if I don’t understand the system.

By: Rob Russo

Rob Russo — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:31:57 +0000

A few years ago, I was an art director at an ad agency with two bank clients. I was told NEVER use red in anything I did because it would be perceived as “in the red” … not a good thing for banks.

Of course you can see by the examples here that red can work, though it is over done.